Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1887-05-19
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HAm DetEmss Accusation F@t ERs-
fsevea " siss 5ury.
A dispasch, dated yesterday, from New
NEW O1Tx, N. T., May II The trial Of
the Rev. MIR. Brislor, indicted for, rape,
was resumed this morning, the hrst wit
ness being Notary Theodore +. Reed, for
the defence. He testified to taking Ida
Downs sworn retraction on December
SIst, 1885.
DR.. Bristor was then called to the stand.
BE kissed the Bible rsverenily, and then
told his story. BE said he was 81 years
old and entered the ministry in 1871. he
was made Doctor Of Divinity in 1881.
He went TO Spring Valley in March, 1885,
as pastor Of the Methodist church, and
Ida Downs went to his house in November
from the Brooklyn Orphan Asylum 10 do
general housework during Mrs Bristor's
illness. He claims that the first intima-
tion he had of her serious charges
against him was when he was summoned
by Trustee John @. Wood to attend a
meeting of the Methodist trustees In MIR.
Bsaunan's house. He says he WAS almost
oyerpowered by the blow, aud at once
went home and asked Ida why she had
told these terrible lies about him. Ida
tried to run away and DR.. BriAtor, angered
beyond control, struck her in the mouth.
She went out, and when she returned ct .
O'Clock that night he locked her In q
room, where abe remained until the next
day, when abe retractsd the statement
against him. He denied that he had any
thing to do with the retraction, and also
denied the. truth of all of IdA's serious
oh T. q -,s.
lasted an hour. Mr. Hoffman asked:
Did you see the jury list drawn for
your trial ~
Yes, SIR"
Did you ask any of your friends to
interview some Of the prospective jury
men ?n
DR.. Bristor's eyes flashed fire, and,
leaning back in the witness chair, he
reared:
mo, sir, did not "
DIR. Bristor admitted that Ida's retrac-
ton was simply to prove to Mrs. Gemmell
that Ida had lied TO her, but that never
theless Mrs. Gemmell had never seen il,
aud Bristor preserved il as valuable in
his favor ut the church trial In Jersey
City, which resulted in the acceptance Of
his resignation from the Methodist
Church.
The prosecution called Mrs. Wyekof,
matron of the Brooklyn Orphan Asylum,
in rebuttal, and offered in evidence the
letter received on December 30th, 1885,
by Mrs. Wyckoff from Ida, in which the
girl accused Bristor of the crime. Mr..
Howe objected ard the court sustained
him on the ground that the letter was In
competent evidence.
Ida Downs was recalled and testified
that ut the time of the retraction she was
under great fear of DIR. Bristor and that
no had told her that she must say that she
had dreamed it, and that Frances Mahoney
understanding dreams, told her it would
all come true.
During Mr.. Howe's summing mp for the
defence Mrs. Bristor wept bitterly, and
Mr.. Bristor was pale.
Judge Cullen charged the jury that
il they did not find Mr.. Bristor
guilty Of rape they might, under the in
dictment, find him guilty of assault and
battery.
At 8 o'clock, the jury came in and an
nOunced verdict of not guilty. Mr..
Bristor, his white haired father, and his
brother were in court Two of Mr.. Bris-
tors friends started in buggy at rae
ing speed to Spring Valley TO carry the
news to the anxious Oongregationalists.